Knowledgebase
All of Think Realty's extensive content archive is at your fingertips. Filter by media type and keyword to hone in on exactly what you need.
Knowledgebase
All of Think Realty's extensive content archive is at your fingertips. Filter by media type and keyword to hone in on exactly what you need.
Relationships, Transparency & Systems with Brian Caputo
Relationships. Transparency. Systems. 🏆 That's the formula Brian Caputo used to make the leap from corporate roles to building real success in private money brokering — and he's sitting down with Scott Ward on the Think Podcast to share exactly how he did it. From navigating the misconceptions in the ...
The 6 Power Moves Every Real Estate Finance Professional Needs to Know Right Now
Whether you're brokering deals, building a portfolio, deploying capital, or crossing over from residential sales — these fundamentals separate the professionals from the hopefuls. Private money is not complicated. But it is precise. After funding over $1 billion in loans, the team at Think Realty has seen every variety of ...
Tax Season Is a Wake-Up Call: Are You Building a Tax Strategy, or Just Filing a Return?
Every spring, I watch the same scene play out. Real estate investors scramble to gather receipts, chase down 1099s, and hand everything to their CPA with one prayer: please don't let me owe too much. Then they sign the return, write a check, and move on — until next April, ...
Unlocking the Secrets of Real Estate Lending with Brian Augsberger
In this episode of the THINK podcast, Scott Ward interviews Brian Augsberger, Senior Director of Sales at Rehab Financial Group (RFG). Brian shares insights into the lending process, emphasizing the importance of transparency, client partnerships, and the evaluation of borrower experience. He discusses common mistakes borrowers make and offers best ...
The Power of Content Creation Tools in Modern Marketing
How CapCut, Canva, and Other Apps Are Transforming the Way Brands Communicate In today's digital-first world, compelling visual content is no longer a luxury. It's a necessity. Whether you're a solo entrepreneur, a small business owner, or part of a large marketing team, the ability to produce high-quality, eye-catching content ...
The Reality of the Private Lending Market Today with Rob Napoletano
In this powerful episode of the THINK Podcast, Scott Ward sits down with Rob Napolitano, resident expert at THINK and President of GRIT Partners. This conversation cuts through the noise. Scott and Rob unpack current market realities, the importance of truth in business, and where real opportunity actually exists—with a ...
What Happens After You Apply for a Residential Transition Loan (RTL)?
Today’s real estate market is extremely competitive, and investors are motivated to move fast just as their capital needs to keep pace. When applying for a loan, borrowers tend to focus on matters such as rates, leverage, and loan terms. However, the subsequent application process is just as important as ...
Linda Hyde on the Real Value Behind AAPL Membership
In this episode, Scott Ward sits down with American Association of Private Lenders President Linda Hyde for a candid, high-level conversation on what truly matters in today’s private lending landscape. Together, they unpack the real benefits of AAPL membership beyond the logo — including industry advocacy, education, regulatory awareness, and ...
Alex's core philosophy is simple: "You don't need more effort-you need more leverage." Guided by his personal motto Virtus in Actis ("Virtue in Action") and grounded in the principles of Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance, and Empathy, he delivers practical, no-fluff strategies designed to help investors build long-term wealth, not fleeting ...
The Authentic Marketing Entrepreneurs Are Craving
Marketing has never been louder than it is today, and that noise is wearing people out. Entrepreneurs who are already stretched thin are being pushed toward complex funnels, overly produced video hooks, and endless tactics that feel more like theater than communication. But something important is happening in the market. People ...
Measure What Matters: The Weekly Discipline That Transforms Any Business
Whether you’re a real estate investor, a private money lender, or a trades professional, one universal truth remains the same: you cannot improve what you do not measure. The size of your operation doesn’t matter. Your ability to track the right metrics directly influences how effectively you grow, how confidently ...
What We Build When We Build Each Other
Women in Private Lending is a group that is incredibly near and dear to my heart — not just because of what it has become, but because of why it began. Having mentors and people who genuinely lift you up can make or break a career. I’ve been incredibly fortunate ...
DSCR Loans vs Traditional Mortgages with Tom Ulrich
In this episode, Scott Ward and Tom Ulrich break down the key differences between DSCR loans and traditional mortgages, and why choosing the wrong one can slow down or completely stall your deal. They explain how DSCR loans are evaluated based on property cash flow instead of personal income, what ...
Marketing That Works: Lead With Value, Not Virality
One of the best aspects of marketing is the creative freedom it offers. You have the opportunity to be the director, producer, and often the face of your brand. Many people feel pressure to “go viral” to be successful, but that is not the goal, and it’s not necessary. What ...
Flips Are Coming Back, But Rates Will Stay Higher
Private Money Mortgage Rates: What Beginner Flippers Need to Know Coming into the new year As we move into 2026, private money lending remains a cornerstone of financing for real estate investors pursuing fix‑and‑flip projects. Unlike traditional bank loans, private money, whether accessed through a broker or a direct lender, ...
Maximizing Value from a Private Lending Trade Show
As we all know, Trade Show Conferences in the private lending space are more than networking events, what they really are, are opportunity accelerators. Whether you are a lender, broker, fund manager, or investor/borrower, the real value of a conference lies in what you extract from the experience and how ...
You’re Betting Against the House
Let’s get something straight: This ain’t a dodge—it’s the cold, hard truth. Quicker you accept it, the less likely you are to get taken for a ride by a would be bond market prophet. Everybody hopes to have an Interest Rate Medium. Problem is, the market’s drunk on predictions. Housing ...
For Speedy Sales, Spark the Senses
With the housing market in low gear right now, pulling out all the stops to sell a house quickly and for top dollar is essential for success. Real estate agents are using every trick of the trade to secure buyers, but sometimes the extra push comes not from staging, but ...
As a rental real estate investor, knowing how to evaluate the local rental market and set accurate rental rates is essential to long-term profitability. In fact, the rental rate should be one of the key calculations you make before buying an investment property. It’s also important to re-evaluate your rental ...
How Smart Structure Powers Affordable Housing Investments
The conversation around affordable housing has changed. What used to be considered a niche or mission-driven corner of the real estate market is now attracting serious attention from investors of every size— and for good reason. With housing affordability at crisis levels across much of the country, demand for quality, ...
Save Affordable Housing, Save the World
In today’s real estate landscape, affordable housing stands out as both a social responsibility and a solid financial opportunity. As home prices continue to rise faster than incomes, the need for affordable homes—those priced so low- to moderate-income families can afford them without sacrificing other essentials—has grown dramatically. This sector ...
Think Realty Magazine Nov-Dec 2025
+WHAT'S INSIDE Operations | Cut Taxes With Short-Term Rentals • Find Your Next Deal for Far Below Market Value • Market Shifts Mean Momentum • 100% Bonus Depreciation Is Here to Stay Design | For Speedy Sales, Spark the Senses Funding |You’re Betting Against the House • A Personal REI Journey ...
Renters Rush in as BTR Homes Beat Buying
With affordability fading and mobility prized, more Americans are renting homes they once aspired to own. The build-to-rent (BTR) sector is one of the strongest and most promising areas of the U.S. housing market right now. While new residential construction faces challenges such as higher costs and unclear regulations, the ...
DSCR rates may be about to move in your favor. Trying to time your refinance just right? That’s like trying to call the bottom of the stock market. It’s risky, frustrating, and nearly impossible. With that said, if you own single-family rentals, the next few months could offer the best ...
Licensing mistakes can sink you fast. When expanding into new markets, many real estate investors and private lenders operate under a common assumption: If it’s a business-purpose loan, licensing doesn’t apply. But that’s not always true, and getting it wrong can come with serious consequences. Licensing laws vary widely by ...
